Razor blade and guard sheet assembly



July 16, 1968 A. w. FERRARA 3,392,446

RAZOR BLADE AND GUARD SHEET ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 17, 1966 INVENTOR. Aajvd fiZ'Je'r/urw United States Patent 3,392,446 RAZOR BLADE AND GUARD SHEET ASSEMBLY Alfred W. Ferrara, 63 Admiral Lane, Hicksville, NY. 11801 Filed Nov. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 595,072 1 Claim. (Cl. 30-34658) ABSTRACT OF TIE DISCLOS This invention includes razor blade and guard sheets of material such as paperboard or paper secured by adhesive to either side of the blade. The guard sheets have scalloped edges, the crests of which protrude beyond the cutting edge of the blade and reduce unintended cutting of the skin of the user.

This invention pertains generally to assemblies including a blade having a cutting edge and useful for a variety of cutlery purposes; more particularly, it relates to a safety razor blade assembly adapted for use in cutting hair, especially human hair, whether on the face, head or other bodily parts.

In the close cutting of hair from parts of the human body, particularly where the hair is to be cut off next to the skin, or shaved, the art of cutlery has progressed from the straight-edge razor primarily in the safety aspect of shaving. Thus, most professional barbers trained in the use of a straight-edge razor prefer to use this instrument in shaving a patron. In the hands of the untrained, however, the straight-edge razor is such a dangerous instrument and has caused so many cuts and scrapes that the so-called safety razor has largely preempted the field of home shaving instruments when a wet shave is desired. In general, the safety razor employs a guard, either in the form of a continuous bar or a series of teeth located adjacent to but out of contact with the razor blade. The bar or teeth are pressed against the skin and provide a support on which the razor rides while the blade cuts hair close to the skin.

The efficiency of the safety razor blade, however, is restricted by the safety factor involved in positioning the blade near the guard. The closer the blade is located with respect to the guard, the less effective the razor will be; when the blade is located too great a distance from the guard, its efficiency is greatly improved, but then it resembles a straight-edge razor in the necessity of handling it with great care. i

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a safety razor blade assembly in which a conventional blade is used, but which has an improved safety factor without the increase in weight and cost inherent in conventional safety razors.

It is another object of my invention to provide a safety razor blade assembly in which the safety factor is provided by a relatively inexpensive, disposable part that can be removed and discarded.

It is another object of my invention to provide a safety razor blade assemblyin which the safety factor is provided by an easily removable part that can be changed to provide an assembly with varying degrees of cutting efiiciency.

The present invention makes use of the knowledge that an elongated, continuous cutting edge can be rendered less likely to abrade and cut the skin of the user when that cutting edge is divided into a multiplicity of individual cutting edge portions separated from each other and aligned to present a rectilinear, discontinuous cutting surface. Concisely stated, my invention provides these indi- 3,392,446 Patented July 16, 1968 vidual cutting edge portions in a conventional, straightedge blade by positioning contiguous with the blade a guard sheet with a non-rectilinear edge close to the cutting edge of the blade. Spaced parts of the non-rectilinear edge of the guard sheet project to or beyond the cutting edge of the blade and so inhibit cutting by the blade at those areas; those portions of the sheet between the projecting parts do not extend to the cutting edge of the blade and so do not affect the cutting function of the blade at their areas. Thus, according to the spacing of the projections of the guard sheet, the safety factor imparted to the cutting edge of the blade is increased or decreased.

According to a preferred embodiment of my invention, the guard sheet, which may be positioned above or below the razor blade, itself, has at least one edge that is scalloped. The crests of the scallops project outwardly beyond the cutting edge of the blade against which the guard sheet is located; the troughs extend inwardly of the cutting edge. When the blade is utilized for shaving, only those parts of the cutting edge at the troughs of the guard sheet scallops, not the crests, are exposed for cutting purposes. Thus, the cutting edge of the conventional blade has been divided into a series of individual cutting edge portions by the simple provision of a guard sheet that breaks up the continuous, straight-edge cutting surface of the blade.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by reference to the following, specific examples of working embodiments of the invention in the accompanying, which forms a part hereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a safety razor including one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the razor blade and guard sheet of the razor of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded, side elevational view of the razor blade and guard sheet of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a safety razor including a further embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to the drawing, and specifically with respect to FIGURE 1 thereof, a safety razor 10 there illustrated includes, as basic elements, a knurled handle 11, a seat member 12, a razor blade 13, and a cap member 14. All of these elements are conventional and are held in a position in which they are immovable relative to each by means of a screw mounted on a shaft 15 that extends through a centrally located aperture in the seat member 12 and the razor blade 13. Upon rotary movement of the screw into a mating orifice in the cap member I4, the elements are pressed together, the razor blade 13 being bowed and seating against the seat member 12 and being rigidly held by the cap member 14.

According to this embodiment of my invention, a guard sheet 16 is positioned between the upper surface of the body of the razor blade 13 and the cap member 14. This guard sheet is of sufiicient flexibility to conform to the upper surface of the razor blade 13 when that blade flexes in response to pressure obtained by manipulation of the handle 11, if the guard sheet 16 is independent of the blade 13. It will be observed in FIGURE 1 that the guard sheet 16, in side elevation, has its edges extending beyond the cutting edges of the blade 13.

The structure of the guard sheet 16 in accordance with one embodiment of my invention will be more apparent from an examination of FIGURE 2 of the drawing, in which guard sheet 16 is illustrated in a position contiguous with and atop razor blade 13. The outline of blade 13 is indicated by broken lines. In the cutting position shown, guard sheet 16, which generally has the same dimensions of length and width as razor blade 13, is positioned contiguous with that blade so that the body of the blade and the body of the guard sheet are closely adjacent each other. When properly positioned, guard sheet 16, which has opposed, scalloped edges 17 and 18, is so located with respect to razor blade 13 that the scalloped edge 17 lies adjacent the blade cutting edge 19 and sealloped edge 18 is adjacent the blade cutting edge 20. Both of blade cutting edges 19 and 20 are continuous and rectilinear.

A safety factor is imparted to the cutting edges 19 and 20 of the razor blade 13 by positioning and the guard sheet 16 so that, with respect to blade cutting edge 19, the crests 21 of scalloped edge 17 extend to and somewhat beyond the cutting edge 19 while the troughs 22 of scalloped edge 17 extend inwardly of that cutting edge. Since the crests 21 are regularly spaced along the length of rectilinear cutting edge 19, it will be seen that cutting edge 19 is thereby divided into a series of equal, exposed cutting edge portions 23 spaced from each other by the crests 21 of the scalloped edge 17 of the guard sheet 16. Also illustrated in FIGURE 2 is the central aperture 26, through which shaft passes, in the illustrate-d embodiment, to rigidly unite the elements of the safety razor 10.

At the opposite cutting edge of razor blade 13, the scalloped edge 18 of guard sheet 16 is formed so that the crests 24 are spaced more closely together than the crests 21 of scalloped edge 17 at the opposite edge of guard sheet 16. By such spacing, it will be apparent that a greater number of cutting edge portions 25 are provided at the right-hand side of the blade as viewed in FIGURE 2 than at the left-hand side of that blade, although, of course the individual portions 25, themselves, are of shorter length. As, in general, the shorter the length of a cutting edge portion, the greater the safety factor thereof, the cutting edge 19 of blade 13 would normally be utilized for cutlery purposes where a lesser safety factor is required than that provided by cutting edge 20 of blade 13. Thus, edge 20 might be utilized for shaving under arms, Where the danger of cutting the skin is relatively great as compared with shaving legs, for which the cutting edge 19 may be more suitable.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the razor blade 13,

shown in broken lines, and guard sheet 16, in solid lines,

illustrated in FIGURE 2. From the elevational view of FIGURE 3, it will be apparent that the crests 21 and 24 of scalloped edges 17 and 18, respectively, of guard sheet 16, extend somewhat beyond the continuous, rectilinear cutting edges 19 and 20 of razor blade 13. The amount by which these crests extend beyond the blade cutting edges is a variant to be determined by the use to which the cutting instrument is to be put as well as the particular material from which the guard sheet is formed. In general, the safety factor is increased in accordance with the extension or overlap of the guard sheet 16 of the cutting edges 19 and 20 of blade 13.

In addition, the direction of the crests of the guard sheet is also determinative of the safety factor achieved. In FIGURE 3, the crests of the guard sheet are positioned to form an exterior angle of about 60 degrees with the vertical, but this angle can, of course, be varied in accordance with the scope of my invention. The crests normally do not terminate in a sharp point, but are rounded so that the razor assemble 10 in cutting position will not tend to ab-rade the skin because of the guard sheet, itself. The precise shape of the crests will also depend upon the safety factor desired and the material from which the guard sheet is formed.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, another embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the form of a safety razor including, as basic elements, a knurled handle 31, a seat member 32, a razor blade 33, and a cap member 34 rigidly positioned by means of a central shaft 35 terminating in a screw that mates with an orifice in cap member 34. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4, however, a guard sheet 36 is provided between blade 33 and cap member 34, and a further guard sheet 37 is provided between blade 33 and seat member 32. Each of guard sheets 36 and 37 is formed with scalloped edges that extend outwardly away from the body of blade 33 to a location slightly beyond the opposed cutting edges of the blade. In this position the crests of the scalloped edges of the guard sheet abut each other on either side of a cutting edge of blade 33 to preclude any contact of the blade edge portions beneath the crests from contacting the skin of the user regardless of the angle at which the razor 30 is held during cutlery manipulation. The crests of the scalloped edges of guard sheets 36 and 37 may be formed so that the crests meet each other, or they may be staggered so that the crests of one guard sheet are located at the troughs of the other guard sheet. All such variations will be utilized for particular needs.

As previously stated, in cutting position the one or more guard sheets utilized should be in contiguous relation with the razor blade with which they cooperate, at least at the cutting edges of the blade and more advantageously throughout the entirety of the blade body. Thus, in FIG- URES 1 and 4, guard sheet 16 and blade 13, and guard sheets 36 and 37 and blade 33, respectively, are all in contiguous relationship. To achieve such positioning, pressure may be applied by means of the handles 11 and 31. Thus, the guard sheets may be separable from the blades and disposable without disposing of those bladse. Alternatively, the guard sheets may be fixed to the blades by means of a suitable adhesive or otherwise so that the blade and guard sheet, without the remainder of the razor, themselves constitute a safety razor assembly and can be used as such, the assembly being manually manipulated. In addition, the guard sheet may be fixed not to the blade but to the cap member and only be brought into contact with the blade upon tightening of the handle of the razor. Likewise, when a guard sheet such as sheet 37 is located beneath a blade such as blade 33, the guard sheet may be fixed to the lower surface of the blade, or to the seat member 32, or may be separate from both of these elements.

The composition of the guard sheet will vary in accordance with economic reasons. Generally, a somewhat flexible, thermoplastic resin has been found suitable for use, although paperboard or metals such as steel, or even water-resistant paper can be utilized. If desired, the composition of the guard sheet can be the same as that of the razor blade, itself, particularly if the guard sheet is to extend up to but not beyond the cutting edge of the razor blade with which is associated.

With respect to variations in the lengths of the blade cutting edge portions between the crests of a guard sheet, which portions perform the cutting function of the safety razor assembly, these portions should not be so long as to negative the safety factor, nor so short as to render close cutting difficult. In general, it has been found that lengths varying from about to /2 inch, preferably A; to A inch, are desirable. The width of the crests at the cutting edge will advantageously be about to A inch, preferably /32 to inch. Variance is dimensions will be made in accordance with the particular materials from which the guard sheets are formed, the overlap of the guard sheets, and the use to be made of the safety razor blade assembly.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be recognized that many obvious alternatives and modifications may be made in those embodiments and in the invention generally described without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is desired that all such obvious alterations and modifications be included within the purview of the invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the following, appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A safety razor blade assembly, comprising a razor blade having a blade body and a continuous, rectilinear cutting edge formed as terminal surface in said blade body; and two separate guard sheets having dimensions of length and width slightly greater than said blade, each of said guard sheets being adhesively fixed to said blade on either side thereof and in such position having a nonrectilinear edge adjacent said cutting edge of said blade, said non-rectilinear edges of said guard sheets being formed with spaced parts extending outwardly in a direction away from said blade body beyond said blade cutting edge and other parts that extend inwardly of said cutting edge in the direction of said blade body, said outwardly and said inwardly extending parts of both of said guard sheets being the same in form and dimension and aligned so that portions of said blade cutting edge are exposed in cutting position and portions thereof are lapped by said outwardly extending parts of said guard sheets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,012,756 12/1911 Truesdale 30-79 1,035,548 8/1912 Dickenson 30-78 6 4/1931 Ericsson 30-73 X 9/1931 Thompson 30-34656 X 9/1935 Rice 30-73 2/ 1937 Schultz 30-79 8/1938 Green 30---73 5/1943 Des Jardins 30-34656 X 1/ 1946 Hammond 30-73 12/ 1953 Infantino 30-30 5/1956 Purdy 30-31 5/1961 Diatikar 30-34661 X 8/1966 Ferrara 30-34656 FOREIGN PATENTS 11/1931 France. 3/ 1947 France. 6/ 1898 Germany.

MYRON C. KRUSE, Primary Examiner. 

